Protesting Crowd Surrounds Offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand in NYC, Led by Anti-Israel Councilwoman Tiffany Caban, Demanding Life for Gaza
In a recent demonstration, approximately 200 pro-Palestinian activists from Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP) occupied a Midtown office building, demanding action from Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to beef up aid to Gaza and end the blockade. The protesters, who included New York City Councilwoman Tiffany Caban, were part of a larger movement advocating for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The activists, donning T-shirts with the phrase "let Gaza live" on them, banged empty pots and pans, symbolizing the lack of food available to Palestinians. They were zip tied and led away by NYPD cops after their protest. Jay Saper, a spokesperson for the Jewish Voters Action Network, stated that the group was "outraged" at the Senators' vote against Senator Bernie Sanders' resolutions, and was calling on them to block arms sales to Israel to save lives.
Tiffany Cabán and JVP have been actively advocating for an end to the siege on Gaza, demanding that humanitarian aid be allowed into the territory to address the severe starvation and crisis there. They view the U.S. government's funding of Israel's military operations as enabling what they describe as genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Both Cabán and JVP also support blocking U.S. arms sales to Israel as a necessary step to save lives and reduce the ongoing violence.
Senator Schumer, however, voted no on the resolutions of disapproval on aid to Israel, stating that security assistance is not about any one government but about support for the Israeli people. This decision has led to dissatisfaction within the Democratic Party, with some, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, expressing support for the protesters' cause. A recent poll commissioned by the Jewish Voters Action Network shows Ocasio-Cortez crushing Schumer 54% to 33% if she were to run for his US Senate seat in 2028.
JVP, however, has no intentions of letting up until it sees action regarding the situation in Gaza. The group is committed to continuing to build their movement and raising their voices until the bombs stop dropping on Gaza, aid is allowed in, and the Palestinian people are free. This is not the first time JVP has targeted Schumer's home, with over 100 protesters being arrested during a rally near his residence last year.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to divide opinions, but one thing is clear: the protesters are calling for urgent action to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza. Schumer, on the other hand, has stated his responsibility to urgently work with humanitarian partners to surge the delivery of food, services, and assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. Whether this will lead to a resolution remains to be seen.
References:
- Jewish Voices for Peace
- Tiffany Cabán
- Jewish Voters Action Network
- The Honan Strategy poll
- The activists from Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP) are not only focusing on the crisis in Gaza but are also expressing their views in media, calling for an end to the blockade and increased aid.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in Gaza have become a significant point of contention in both politics and general-news, with JVP and others advocating for an immediate resolution to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
